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Prince of Persia bounding its way to DS
Talk about a blast from the past. We last heard about plans to bring Prince of Persia to the DS way back in August 2006, and now Ubisoft has dispatched another press release confirming that the next Prince of Persia title will indeed appear on our favorite handheld, as well as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. It's being handled by the same folks who made the sublime Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (the DS edition is said to be "specifically designed" for the system, with a new storyline and new characters), and is scheduled to appear towards the end of 2008.Truth be told, we have no idea whether this is the same title that was being discussed almost two years ago, but really, who cares? As long as we're definitely getting more Prince of Persia on our handhelds, we're happy.* And this year as well! Hurray!* That is, providing it's very different from 2005's utterly mediocre Battles of Prince of Persia, because another game like Battles of Prince of Persia wouldn't make us very happy at all. Quite the opposite, actually. Oh, and this must be 2D, Ubi.[Via press release]
Prince of Persia officially returns this holiday
Ubisoft announced today that the next installment in the Prince of Persia franchise will release by holiday '08. The game, at this time simply called Prince of Persia (not Prince of Persia Prodigy), is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal (Assassin's Creed and the PoP: Sands of Time trilogy) and will launch on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.According to the publisher, this new Prince of Persia "is opening a new chapter in the Prince of Persia universe" and will feature a new breed of gameplay "poised to rejuvenate the action-adventure genre." The company also states the game will introduce an "illustrative art style." The DS isn't left out in all this, as it'll receive a game -- albeit one with a different storyline and new characters. With a holiday release confirmed, we'll be sure to get some hands-on time with the game at E3.[Via GameDaily]
Ubisoft trademarks Prince of Persia Prodigy
It's been rumored for a while, and even officially confirmed for fiscal year 2008, but we really don't know much about the next Prince of Persia game. The loose talk is that the next trilogy will be a form of prequel, and it looks as though the first game of said trilogy could be called Prodigy. Recently trademarked by Ubisoft, Prince of Persia Prodigy is an admittedly vague title and could possibly refer to another PoP product, but with a new official teaser site up and the game rumored to be hitting this fall, an official name hitting now feels about right.Furthermore, other rumors say that the game will be shown at Ubidays (an editorial event) sometime in the near future and that the game's REAL title is in fact Prince of Persia Zero. We'll just have to wait for Ubidays for more concrete info, but those with time to kill can endlessly refresh the official page to attempt to quickly decipher the writing before it's covered.%Gallery-21364%[Via NeoGAF]
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Metal Arms join Xbox Originals lineup
Major Nelson informs that secret agent Sam Fisher and some robots have been discovered covertly trying to sneak onto the Xbox Originals lineup. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Metal Arms: Glitch in the System will be available for 1200 MS points ($15) a piece beginning next Monday (except in Korea and Japan). As usual, it behooves us to mention that unless it's 3AM and you've got the hankering for an Xbox Originals game, it's probably best to take a look around the intertubes (or a favorite gaming pawnshop) for a better deal.
Far Cry 2 confirmed for PC, Xbox 360, PS3 this Fall
Ubisoft informs EuroGamer that Far Cry 2 will release in "autumn" this year. The game is currently in development at Ubisoft Montreal and this latest information narrows down the previous year-long release window of April to March of next year. Ubisoft also states a demo is likely for the game and that the title should release simultaneously for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.Given the impressive footage we've seen so far of the game, Far Cry 2 can take its time in development and keep upping the pretty. And you know, our summer is already looking pretty full.%Gallery-6687%
Ubisoft details Assassin's Creed PC enhancements
In an attempt to address criticism aimed at the game's repetitive "investigation missions," Ubisoft has detailed (via IGN) some of the enhancements made to the PC version of free-roaming bump-off sim, Assassin's Creed. Four new types of missions will be added to protagonist Altair's premortem preamble, including "archer assassination," which tasks players with stealthily eliminating rooftop guards, and "escort challenge," an exercise in protecting a fellow (seemingly inept) assassin as he wanders to a specific location. Also new to the personal computer will be the rather impolite "merchant stand destruction challenge," a pastime that's sure to exude the same amount of subtlety seen in "rooftop race challenge." We're surprised Ubisoft didn't throw in some pizza delivery missions for good measure. Still, considering the more diverse activities and enhanced guard AI (no more blending right next to a corpse!), PC gamers won't be waiting until "early April" without compensation. And just so you know, we never partook in all the assassin hate -- we liked the clambering and killing well enough to put it in our list of top ten games of last year.
Far Cry 2 is an impressively nice fit for PS3
Many game developers have found the PS3 hardware difficult to work with ... intimidating even. Ubisoft Montreal, developer of Far Cry 2, was no exception and had some worries about developing for the PS3 in the past; however, those uncertain feelings have apparently been dispelled, according to a recent interview with tech director Dominic Guay. Guay had a lot of positive things to say, calling the raw processing power of the PS3 'impressive' and the hardware architecture a 'nice fit' for their technical designs. He appraises Blu-ray and the PS3's hard drive saying they're ideal for Far Cry 2's continuously streaming open world. The only downside is that the PS3 can't compare to some higher end PC resolutions due to memory size differences, but "it's not a big deal" says Guay. With the PS3 out for more than a year now, and developer kits out way longer than that, developers have had a lot of time getting to know the hardware they'll be developing for in the next few years. If this is a sign for anything, it must mean that we'll be hearing more and more positive comments like Dominic Guay's in the near future.
Ubisoft: We've got some Wii games in the works
Game | Life managed to grab a little face time with Yannis Mallat, the head honcho at Ubisoft Montreal (Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell). They grilled him about all manner of subject in the gaming industry, but what we care about mainly was his words in regards to Nintendo's Wii console, and if we would be seeing any new Wii games from the company."And right now, we are developing some other Wii titles that we are going to be able to talk about soon," Mallat commented. When asked further about big budget titles having a chance to thrive on the console, Mallat said that those titles are possible for the Wii, but developing for the console is something that needs to be heavily considered. "That console specifically has to be thought of in the same way that it's been produced and designed," he said, adding "when it comes time to make games. And when you hit the right balance, success will just follow."We don't know about you, but we're excited to hear more about these mystery games.
Assassin's Creed pounces onto PC this March, adds missions
In case you weren't one of the 2.5 million people to pick it up in its first month of sales, Ubisoft is bringing history lesson-cum-assassin simulator Assassin's Creed to the PC platform in March. The only difference: when you drop "a few coins" on this version, you'll be rewarded with "four brand-new exclusive types of investigations" which should go a small way towards silencing complaints that the game (one of our favorites in '07, by the by) was repetitive. And, at $50, it enjoys the obligatory PC game discount.Please sir, spare a few coins ...
No more tears: Far Cry 2 going to PS3
Previously announced exclusively for PC, Ubisoft has just revealed that Far Cry 2 is also being developed for Xbox 360 and PS3. (Could it be the poor sales of Crytek's much anticipated PC-only Crysis?) Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, this FPS has you running and gunning through the wild fields of Afrika Africa. Ubisoft is touting its custom-made video game engine, and as seen from this old off-screen PC footage, it looks pretty good (albeit familiar). According to the press release, "Far Cry 2 is scheduled to ship fiscal 2008–2009." That's a pretty vague and unhelpful release schedule. For more info on the game, you may want to check out the next issue of Official PlayStation Magazine. They're totally going to crack the game open. We're glad to see yet another good looking FPS head to the PS3, but we're still more interested in what the talented guys at Crytek might be cooking up ...
Joystiq's Top 10 of 2007: Assassin's Creed
Ubisoft's hugely anticipated bump-off sim created quite the controversy, though oddly not for the stylish and quite visceral violence it so gleefully inflicted upon authority figures. Instead, Assassin's Creed (or Assassin's Crud, depending on who you ask) divided critics, with some being utterly engaged by the game's unique setting and others thinking the same environment to be remarkably empty. Count us among the former, as we've yet to see a bigger, more lavishly detailed and immersive world than the one dashed through, clambered up and vaulted over in Assassin's Creed. The game's greatest design flaw may be that it's a bit too open-ended for its own good, refusing to overtly reward or punish players for behaving in a specific way. If you wish, you can spend a lovely afternoon playing Maniacal Guard Killer's Creed instead, carrying out your missions with all the stealthy maneuvering of a grand piano rolling down an escalator. Would it have been wiser for Ubisoft to beat you over the head every time you set off a medieval alarm and otherwise played the game "wrong?" Perhaps... but isn't the point of open-ended gameplay to let you choose your own path? In many ways, Assassin's Creed is more of a role-playing game than most of the titles officially labeling themselves as such. When you play as Altair -- really play as him, as an assassin -- and measure failure according to your own actions and not what a Fission Mailed screen tells you, the game's intricate world becomes inescapably engaging. Learn about your target, plan your attack and revel in the absolutely thrilling chase that follows your murderous deed. Though the game's overall structure may seem repetitive in the face of such a believable world, the true magic in Assassin's Creed lies not in what you do, but how you do it. %Gallery-12473% Chief among our choices ->
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 to feature 'more Vegas'
"Talk to the hand!" has been the sentiment of the two Rainbow Six Vegas 2 teaser trailers released thus far, and while Ubisoft still isn't ready to show us the game, the publisher is ready to talk. A smattering of gameplay details was disclosed today, confirming what the game title already reveals: we're in for more Rainbow Six Vegas. More weapons, more armor, mo' better AI, more multiplayer and, of course, "more Vegas."As the Tom Clancy franchises continue along the 'EA Sports trajectory,' Vegas 2 will see its most ambitious seasonal tweaks in the form of improved "vastly improved" co-op play (a jump-in/jump-out campaign) and single-player expansion of the first game's multiplayer progression system (offline experience points). Anyone else convinced that the Ubisoft Montreal devs could code this game in their sleep?Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is being developed for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Games for Windows, and is currently scheduled for a March 2008 release.
Today's double video: twice the Altair, twice the Altair
Joystiq reader Flynn tipped us off to a rather bizarre, er, "glitch" in Assassin's Creed where death is just another gateway to life ... twice. Think you're seeing double? (Or quadruple if you play both videos at the same time.) Well, you're right. Enjoy the video after the break. Joystiq reader Flynn tipped us off to a rather bizarre, er, "glitch" in Assassin's Creed where death is just another gateway to life ... twice. Think you're seeing double? (Or quadruple if you play both videos at the same time.) Well, you're right. Enjoy the video after the break.
Metareview: Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Sometimes, we almost wonder if gamers really wanted Assassin's Creed to actually make it onto shelves. Not that they don't want to play the game per se, but because they seem so gosh darn infatuated with that pretty Miss Jade Raymond that they couldn't bear to go a couple years without playing another game produced by her. End run on sentence. Why? Because that equates to a decrease from the googolplex of daily postings and interviews on her game, her wardrobe choices, and thanks to some blogs, comments on the same parts one of hundreds of thousands of other women you've seen in your life has she's equipped with. (If I see stat modification comments in this post I swear to some higher power the outcome -- for you -- will not be pretty.)
Kristen Bell gets digitized for Assassin's Creed
We'll admit it -- we're fans of Ms. Bell, from the spunky, spitfire junior private eye she played in Veronica Mars to the unseen, but ever present blogger in Gossip Girl, and even the lead in the god-awful Pulse. So, naturally, when she let it slip last December that she was contributing to Assassin's Creed, our hype meter exploded under the pressure. Now, giving us a little taste, Ubisoft released the first image of what Kristen Bell looks like in the game. Despite a less than flattering hair style, the actual rendering looks extremely similar. Speaking about Kristen Bell, producer Jade Raymond stated she "is a remarkable actress who was able to bring her character to life in a dynamic way that I don't think anyone else could have done properly." We'd still prefer some QT with the less creepy Bell any day of the week, though.
Assassin's Creed goes for gold, stabs it
We'll kids, we've got good news and bad news. The good news is that Ubisoft's medieval sneak-a-thon, Assassin's Creed, has gone gold and has a confirmed release date of November 13. The bad news is that you now have one more game to add to the list. You know the one. That list with all the games you need written on it. Everybody keeps one of those, right? Right next to the list of all the essentials you can live without to save money. You know, things like laundry detergent and toothpaste. You don't really need those things, do you?
New Assassin's Creed trailer does the trick
A new trailer for Assassin's Creed has sneaked onto the web (see what we did there?). The trailer, which looks to be a cinematic from the game, features a group of apparently evil men trying to figure out what to do about a particularly nasty problem. As you can imagine, Altair, the game's eponymous assassin, has caused this group no end of trouble. Without ruining it, let's just say that they don't figure out what to do by the end of the trailer. Honestly, the more we see of this game, the more excited we are. Check it out (see it in HD here) and tell us what you think. [Via Joystiq]
13 minutes of FarCry 2 footage
Taken at the Leipzig Games Convention, this 13-minute video gives a good taste of what FarCry 2 will have to offer. If you don't know yet, FarCry 2 takes place on the African savannah in a giant sandbox environment. Obviously, Ubisoft's Montreal Studio (Crytek is off doing Crysis) don't consider the now-classic Survivor: Africa issue a problem. When the television show Survivor went to Africa something got lost (like beautiful blue water and lush green vegetation) and they never went back to anything similar. FarCry 2 continues the gaming trend of a more brown environmental color palette. It'll be interesting to see how fans react to the new environment.And before the calls of racism start over a white man going on a shooting rampage in Africa, the people you are shooting appear to be white. At least we think they are, way too much movement in the video to be sure, but a lot of the still images in the gallery below show white people. Although that opens up a whole other set of issues.The game does look beautiful and is still in a pre-Alpha build. The title is expected next spring on PC. With any luck we'll get some console release projections in the near future. There is also a special introduction announcement for the FarCry 2 footage after the break.%Gallery-6687%
Joystiq interviews FarCry 2's Clint Hocking
Ubisoft's Clint Hocking made a special trip to PAX this year to show off his latest project: FarCry 2. But this isn't your run-of-the-mill FPS sequel, as our liveblog of the demo details, but an ambitious open-world shooter set in the exotic locale of the African Savannah. We were lucky to grab a couple minutes of Clint's time following the demo for an interview where we asked about the FarCry brand, the possibility of console ports, and how long they think this open-ended game will take to finish. Why use the FarCry brand to make this game? Well, I think that's kind of a business question for Ubisoft but my answer to that is, Ubisoft started with FarCry, published it and obviously started making the console games. The same time they were doing that – keep in mind I started conception before FarCry Instincts even shipped. They were in production when I started conception. And Ubisoft knew at that time that they wanted a top tier PC sequel. At the same time they knew about FarCry; at that time Boiling Point was announced; we didn't know about Just Cause; they knew they were going to make at least two sequels on the console; LOST was on TV. Literally they said, "We're worried that we're going to dry up this brand."%Gallery-6687%
PAX 07: The Far Cry 2 public demo
They inform us that there will be no visual or audio recording during the FarCry 2 demo. Developer Clint Hocking is on the stage, having flown to Seattle from Leipzig for this one, single demo. They've reserved the first two rows for press, eager to ensure their forfeiture of sleep doesn't go unrewarded. The screen is showing a Windows desktop with a big, shiny FarCry 2 logo. Carolyn Carnes opens up, reminding us there is no recording equipment (OR ELSE!), asking us to turn our cellphones off, reminding us this is a pre-alpha (read: if something goes wrong, it's early!) and of course, they won't be able to answer everything during the Q&A session. They gave a limited demonstration of the game at Leipzig, but this will be the definitive unveiling of the game. She intros Clint, notes he was the lead developer of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (someone yells out, "Oh yeahhhh!") and creative director of the FarCry 2 project. He's been on the project for over 2 years now, starting with a small team of eight guys working to determine how to make a sequel worthy of the original. They went into production three months ago and "aren't even alpha." They're targeting first quarter 2008. The demo, due to a technological circumstance, will be run in an unfortunately low 800x600 whereas the game has been running for them at 1600x1050, 30fps. The good news: the frame rate should be great.
